John Davies, Consultant, Davies Wildfire Management Inc.

Transcription

1 ~ ~A ~~~ i!1, ~'.r ~-?'~~~. THOMPSON - NICOLA REGIONAL DISTRICT ~ ~k ~~ '0/" ""4-~~'" April 10, 2008 ~~ ~~ MINUTES of a Meeting of the Board of Directors of the EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ~,"4t~ AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE held in the Board Room, Fourth Floor, 465 ~. Victoria Street, Kamloops, B.C. on commencing at 10:04 a.m.. PRESENT: Director M. Fennell Director J. Harker Director A.G. Walker Director B. Tait Director R.H. Elliott Director B. CruzelieMyram District of Barriere City of Kamloops Electoral Area "A" (Wells Gray Country) Electoral Area "I" (Blue Sky Country) Electoral Area "J" (Copper Desert Country) Electoral Area "0" (Lower North Thompson) Mr. G. Toma, Chief Administrative Officer Mr. L. Huntley, Clerk/Director of Community Services Mr. S. Gill, Director of Finance Mr. A. Swetlishoff, Director of Development Services Ms. L. Cornwell, Deputy Clerk/Manager of Community Services Mr. T. Kress, Manager of Emergency Services Ms. M. Sims, Recording Secretary PRESS: GUEST: OTHERS: None. John Davies, Consultant, Davies Wildfire Management Inc. None. 1. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR Director Harker was acclaimed as Chair and Director Elliott was acclaimed as Vice- Chair of the. 2. MINUTES (a) EmerQency ManaQement Committee Minutes dated October 10, 2007 Moved by Director Tait Seconded by Director CruzelleMyram That the Minutes of the meeting of October 10, 2007 be adopted as circulated. Page 1 of 8

2 (b) Search and Rescue Committee Minutes dated October Moved by Director Tait Seconded by Director Fennell That the Minutes of the October 25, 2007 meeting be adopted as circulated. 3. COMMITTEE ROLE AND MANDATE (a) Emen~ency ManaQement and Protective Services Committee Establishment and ReQulation Bylaw No Copy of Bylaw No Moved by Director Elliott Seconded by Director Fennell That Bylaw No be received for information. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 5. CORRESPONDENCE None. 6. REPORTS and/or INQUIRIES (a) Community Wildfire Protection Plan Report from the Director of Development Services dated March 31, The Director of Development Services provided a brief background on the preparation of the TNRD Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), which has been completed by Davies Wildfire Management Inc. The purpose of the CWPP is to lessen the impact of forest fires on communities. John Davies introduced himself as a professional firefighter, who was involved in the 2003 wildfires and provided a powerpoint presentation with regard to the CWPP. Page 2 of 8

3 Key components included: Funding provided by UBCM and TNRD (50% each) Wildfire Threat Analysis Interface Fuel Hazard Assessment Fuel Management Projects Fuels Abatement Methods Treatment Prescriptions Mr. Davies indicated that his conclusion is for the Board of Directors to adopt the forty-nine recommendations put forward in the CWPP and to consider hiring a full time professional forester or technologist to implement fuel management plans. Upon question, Mr. Davies advised that: private landowners have funding available to them through Natural Resources Canada, and this CWPP funding would only apply to Crown and municipal lands; and the TNRD could acquire the existing provincial fire database from the province's data bank at no cost Upon question, the Director of Finance indicated that based on the $400,000 annual budget, it would cost approximately $2.00 or slightly less per $100, or $8.00 per $400, on residential assessment if the proposed services was carried out under the existing Emergency Management Service assessment. The service would be an on-going permanent service. UBCM currently has $20M in funding available for CWPP work, and Natural Resources Canada has $1.1M in funding for removal of pine beetle infested trees. The Director of Development Services indicated that there are 105 distinct high-risk areas within the TNRD that would cost $12-$15M over a 10 to 12 year period, excluding federal or provincial grants, to mitigate fire hazard risk, and also advised that the new staff person would be an employee of the TNRD, would work closely with the Manager of Emergency Services, would need a forestry-related background and would liaise with contractors and communities and would work in the field. The program would help the Ministry of Forests Protection Branch address wildfire risk on Crown lands and in municipalities, not on private land. The Director of Development Services advised that the conclusion from the City of Kamloops tree removal program is that the benefits to private landowners include an opportunity to haul debris to burn piles and use timber marks that have been purchased by the local governments. Page 3 of 8

4 Moved by Director Tait Seconded by Director Elliott That the recommend to the Board of Directors that the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Fuel Hazard Management Strategy reports be received for information. Seconded by Director Tait That the recommend to the Board of Directors that the forty-nine Community Wildfire Protection Plan recommendations be approved in principle. Seconded by Director Walker That the recommend to the Board of Directors that the Community Wildfire Protection Plan be implemented beginning in 2009 with an annual budget of $400,000, including the hiring of a full time forestry technician. CARRIED (b) Search and Rescue (SAR) Fundin!:!Applications Report from the Manager of Emergency Services dated April 1, The Manager of Emergency Services noted that the Lytton Search and Rescue have advised that they have been unable to meet the qualifying criteria for this year's operating grant. Moved by Director Walker Seconded by Director CruzelleMyram That the recommend to the Board of Directors that a $5,000 annual operating grant be awarded to the Barriere, Wells Gray, Kamloops, Logan Lake and Nicola Valley Search and Rescue Teams. Page 4 of 8

5 Seconded by Director CruzelleMyram That the recommend to the Board of Directors that a grant of $39, be awarded to Barriere SAR for the purchase of a new highway rescue vehicle. The Manager of Emergency Services advised that Barriere Search and Rescue has offered to sell their 17-year-old rescue vehicle equipped with a custom box to Wells Gray Search and Rescue for $30, plus applicable taxes. It was suggested that the vehicle is likely worth considerably less than the asking price and that an independent evaluation of the vehicle should be completed prior to purchase. Moved by Director Elliott That the recommend to the Board of Directors that a grant of up to $30, be awarded to Wells Gray SAR for the purchase of search & rescue equipment and a primary response vehicle, subject to an independent evaluation of the value of the vehicle. Moved by Director Walker Seconded by Director Elliott DEFEATED That the recommend to the Board of Directors that Wells Gray SAR receive a grant of up to $15, for the purchase of SAR equipment. Moved by Director Walker Seconded by Director Elliott That the recommend to the Board of Directors that the TNRD is willing to place 50% of the total cost of purchasing a new/newer rescue vehicle in trust until the Wells Gray Search and Rescue is able to raise their 50% of the total funds; and further that the Wells Gray Search and Rescue be offered suggestions as to where to seek grants for funding. Moved by Director Fennell Page 5 of 8

6 That the recommend to the Board of Directors that TNRD SAR teams be advised that a second round of applications for 50% funding towards equipment and training has been authorized with an application deadline of September 30, (c) Farmed Animal Mass Carcass Disposal Report from Director of Development Services dated November 7, That the TNRD Emergency Preparedness Plan be amended to include a farmed animal mass carcass disposal hazard specific checklist similar to those presently found in the TNRD Emergency Response and Recovery Plan. DEFEATED (d) E-911 City of Kamloops Fire & Rescue Dispatch AQreement Report from the Clerk/Director of Development Services dated April 2, Moved by Director Elliott Seconded by Director Fennell That the "E-911 City of Kamloops Fire and Rescue Dispatch Agreement" Memorandum be received for information. (e) UBCM Participation in Fire Services Liaison Group Report from the Clerk/Director of Community Services dated April 2, That the "UBCM Participation in Fire Services Liaison Group" Memorandum be received for information. (f) Electoral Area "J" (Tobiano) Fire Protection Service Page 6 of 8

7 Report from the Clerk/Director of Community Services dated April 3, Moved by Director Elliott That the "Electoral Area "J" (Tobiano) Fire Protection Service" Memorandum be received for information. 7. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA (a) Familv Emergency Preparedness Guide The Manager of Emergency Services advised that the updated Family Emergency Preparedness Guide, exclusive to the TNRD with local contact names and information, has been issued and that 3,000 guides will be distributed to local libraries and member municipalities, and is available ton the TNRD's website. (b) Lytton Emergency Plans The Clerk/Director of Community Services advised that Lytton is considering a new joint plan with the surrounding First Nations bands. (c) Spring Snowpack/Runoff The Manager of Emergency Services indicated that the April 1st snowpack has been issued and that in the North Thompson, runoff is 10% above normal, and in the South Thompson, runoff is 5% above normal. (d) Flow Monitoring Proiect The Manager of Emergency Services advised that 6 locations (Birch Island, Clearwater, Blackpool, Little Fort, and 2 in Barriere) will be participating in a flow monitoring project initiated by the TNRD. River flows will be monitored by using river level gauges. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Director Walker Seconded by Director Elliott That the meeting adjourn at 11:39 a.m. Certified Correct: Page 7 of 8

8 Chair Clerk Page 8 of 8